Issue HANLEY MATTERS No. 15 the newsletter of The Hanleys’ Village Society Autumn 2007 OFFICERS A FAIR FIELD FULL OF FOLK President Nick Lechmere Many people connected with Malvern monasteries 150 years before it became Tel: 07771 644927 are aware of the phrase "a fair field full fact. Chair Ian Bowles of folk", yet few know much about It seems that Langland vividly Tel: 311931 William Langland, who wrote the recalled the breathtaking beauty of the Treasurer narrative poem Piers Plowman , in Malvern Hills. He wrote Piers Plowman John Boardman Tel: 311748 which these words appear. in a west midland dialect, using the William Langland was born, as far imagery of the countryside he loved in Secretary & Newsletter Editor as we know, somewhere in Malvern order to explain his deeply felt Malcolm Fare Chase in the year 1332 and died around convictions. Tel: 311197 1386. His father was a man of rank and His poem takes the form of a series Programme Secretary David Thomas a friend of Hugh Despencer the of dreaming and waking interludes. The Tel: 310437 Younger, Lord of Malvern Chase, who dreams are unconnected and bizarre as governed the Chase from Hanley dreams often prove to be. FORTHCOMING Castle. His mother was a shadowy He falls asleep one May morning by ACTIVITIES figure of whom nothing is known. a ripp1ing stream on Malvern Hill and 30 November 2007 Langland grew up in the Malvern dreams that he sees before him a fair Talk by Dr John Payne area amid the beauty of the surrounding field full of folk, in which all manner of on Malvern’s Geology countryside. It is believed that his father men, the poor and the rich, go about and Landscape. Village Hall, 7.30 pm. and friends found the money to have their daily lives. He describes them in him schooled at Little Malvern Priory, great detail. He is deeply troubled by 25 January 2008 where he found happiness and the preponderance of greed and self- Talk by Ray Sturdy on Malvern’s Marvellous contentment and showed great promise. seeking and searches in his dreams for a Memories. However, when he was about 17 solution to the problem of how to save Village Hall, 7.30 pm. years old, all financial assistance men's souls. 28 March 2008 stopped because of the Black Death and He wakes, to sleep again, this time Talk by Angie Bolton he was left to make his own way in the to meet a man who offers to take him on Antiquities of world as a monk in minor orders. and others on a journey to find truth. Worcestershire. Bring garden finds for He drifted to London and lived in The man is a humble ploughman called identification. poverty in Cornhill. Here he married, Piers, whose solid worth and Village Hall, 7.30 pm. thus blocking his way to further transparent goodness leads the advancement in the Church. He made a dreaming Langland to invest him with scanty living saying prayers for the the mantle of Christ. souls of the dead and dying, yet he was His long and troubled journey in the destined to become one of the most land of his dreams is a spiritual famous literary figures in the mediaeval exploration into the meaning of life on world, equal to and contemporary with this earth. He finally awakes to the Chaucer. same corrupt and unchanging world. Langland was renowned for his Instead of succumbing to despair, he bitter condemnation of corruption in resolves to become a pilgrim in order to any form, while remaining steadfastly roam the world preaching the message loyal to his Church and his king. He of Piers Plowman, which was: showed a stern yet tender regard for the "When all treasures are tried, poor and oppressed and was a man of truth is the best staggering foresight in so far as he Learn to love and leave all other." forecast the dissolution of the Gwen Appleby CONSERVING WORCESTER'S HERITAGE Following the Society's AGM, designed as a corner site, with a Will Scott gave a talk on fine turret and large windows in conserving Worcester's historic red brick and terracotta. Also in buildings. The city's first Foregate Street is the old Shire conservation officer, Mr Scott Hall, recently extended as part of explained that much of what he the Crown Court centre. had been doing for the past 28 One of the finest buildings to years was conservation by stealth be rescued from demolition is the in the face of apathy or hostility 15th century Commandery, which by developers. was founded as a hospital by St With a population of nearly Wulstan in 1085 just outside the 100,000 and bounded by the old Sidbury gate. It gets its name river, escarpment and M5, from the masters of the hospital Worcester did not have much who called themselves The Commandery room to expand and so was commanders. After being used as subject to increasing pressure to a monastic hospital, it became a restaurant. The spire of St develop existing sites. But it was merchant's house, a blind college, Andrew, Deansway, built in 1751, still a fine historic city, ranked a print works and is now a was in danger of collapse when it 12th or 13th in the country, he museum. was restored 20 years ago. Will thought, as he showed numerous Conservation areas of special Scott added the finishing touches slides of buildings that had been architectural interest include by regilding the weather vane saved. Britannia Square, the Crown with gold leaf so that it still Among those of particular Passage and Reindeer Court shines today. interest were St Oswald’s developments that were once Other buildings that have almshouses with their chapel in coaching inns, and the Crowngate benefited from restoration include The Tything, largely dating from development, which consolidates the Northwick cinema, built in the 1870s, although with origins the High Street and is the largest 1938, which has been saved four that might go back 1000 years. traffic-free shopping area of any times and is now a lighting showroom; the tollgate on the corner of Ombersley and Droitwich roads; the fountain at Cripplegate Park; St George's Square with its listed telephone box; City Arcade, which provides an east-west walkway across the city; Times End Mill, which now provides town houses in the city centre, the hop industry's assembly room, which once held dance groups in the early 19th century; the Hop Market Hotel, now 24 council flats and shops; and Powick power station, the St Oswald’s almshouses first hydro-electric power station in Europe, now converted to Not far away is the former Kay's city in the country. residential accommodation. office, built in 1907 and one of Among redundant churches, St Will Scott urged us as a the finest buildings in Worcester Nicholas was a notable example village society to look for for its time, now converted to of successful restoration by the superlatives when describing residential accommodation. private sector, when a brewery buildings and amenities within The Victoria Institute in took on the responsibility for the parish and promised to return Foregate Street, now the museum, repairs by acquiring a 30-year with a closer look at what the library and art gallery, was lease and turning it into a Hanleys had to offer..